On the External Characters of the Felidse. 113 



region. Second joint of the flagellum slightly longer than 

 the third. Thorax opaque, minutely and very closely punc- 

 tured ; median segment similarly punctured, with a median 

 longitudinal sulcus, shallow and narrow on the dorsal surface, 

 deep and broader on the posterior slope, the extreme apex 

 with a few transver&e strise. Abdomen closely and minutely 

 punctured, rather more strongly on the ventral than on the 

 dorsal segments ; sixth dorsal segment triangular, convex. 

 Both recurrent nervures received by the second cubital cell, 

 the first near one-quarter from the base, the second very near 

 the apex ; radial margin of the third cubital cell variable in 

 length, but longer than the petiole of the second cubital cell. 



Hah, British Guiana, Issororo (C B. Williams) ; July. 

 Three females. 



The development of the yellow abdominal fasciee, which 

 are chitinous, varies considerably, being rather obscured in 

 one specimen. This is quite distinct from F. paraeuse, Spin., 

 which also has yello\vi.sh abdominal fasciie, but is much 

 smaller and is without the broad fuscous costal margin of the 

 fore wing, and differs in other details of colour, also in the 

 position of the first recurrent nervuie. 



VII. — On the External Characters of the Felidse. By 

 R, I. PococK, F.K.S., Superintendent of the Zoological 

 Society's Gardens. 



The facts recorded in this paper are based upon an exami- 

 nation, extending over many years, of specimens that have 

 died in the Zoological Society^s Gardens. Although un- 

 avoidabl}' incomplete, the observations probably, 1 think, 

 cover the range of variation in the characters discussed 

 within the limits of the family. 



The Ears. 



The ears of the Felidse are very constant in their general 

 features, so far as my observations have carried me, and do 

 not differ essentially from those of the typical Viverridae. 

 The bursa is always present and large. Its posterior flap 

 rises behind the rim of the pinna above, and the anterior 

 flap is always deeply notched. These features are observable 

 even in newly-born kittens. The main cartilages also differ 

 but little from species to species ; but neither in the structure 

 of the bursa nor of the cartilages have I been able to establish 



Ann. & Mag. N. Hint. Ser. 8. Vol. xix. 8 



